The Hindu : Sport / Cricket : Perfect send-off for Smith & Co.

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Friday, Mar 02, 2007
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Perfect send-off for Smith & Co.

Dubai : South Africa got a perfect send-off to the ICC Cricket World Cup when its captain Graeme Smith was presented with the ICC ODI Championship Shield for climbing to the top of the official one-day rankings.

Smith's side assumed first place from Australia earlier this month. It is the first time a side has overtaken Australia since the listings began in October 2002.

Smith received the Shield in Johannesburg just before the team prepared to fly to the Caribbean for a prize that has eluded the side since its return to international cricket over 15 years ago.

The South African captain promised his team would work hard to maintain its winning momentum in the mega event. ``This is a great honour and a deserved reward for all the hard work the team has put in over the past 18 months,'' Smith said.

``However, heading the log at this stage will not change our focus on the job at hand over the next two months in the Caribbean,'' he said.

Cricket South Africa chief Gerald Majola praised Smith for achieving the extraordinary feat.

``This is an outstanding achievement by the Proteas under the leadership of Graeme Smith. The Proteas have had an extraordinary run of form over the past 12 months." — PTI

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